Political stories, opinions, comments and analysis

The dictator is tyrant, bloody, corrupt etc.. and the dictator is linked to totalitarian regime lacks freedom of speech and political participation, except for some of the ruling elites surrounding him. However, this is, in fact, an over-reduction of the psychological and behavioral aspects of the dictator. Nevertheless, why does the dictator not leave the power in times of protesting and popular uprising?

Detached from reality:

He is detached from reality and the tyrant usually under-estimates the popular upset, because the surrounding ruling minority misinforms him. Therefore, the dictator is actually convinced about false popular base among his people, so he classifies the protesters and his opponents as a bunch of outlawed group where there is no independent judicial system.

Throughout the ruling years, the dictator has never settled a retirement plan. He has never thought about his post-term life.

Furthermore, year after year, he becomes more addictive to power and the presidential lifestyle that lacks any accountability. So, he starts to prepare himself for a lifelong term and even inheriting the governance to his son, such Egypt's Mubarak, Libya's Qaddafi and Syria's Assad.

Reduction of patriotism:

As soon as the popular demonstrations erupt, the dictator believes that his national duty is to stick to the power to avoid disintegration of the country. He is detached from reality and believes he is popular amid actual threat of uprooting from the power. The dictator is also surrounded by a loyal ruling elites who are ready for unmerciful fight for their positions and privileges. This will increase political tensions and will lead to civil war between the oppressed majority and the privileged minority.

Grandiosity:

The long-term settlement in power and lacking of any legal accountability will create grandiosity in which the tyrant believes that he is the fittest person to occupy the presidential chair. He is experienced more than any other citizen.

The case of Yemen: Ali Abdullah Saleh (in power: 1978-2011):

Ali Abdullah Saleh was assassinated by his Houthi allies after six years of removing from power as president of Yemen.

He formed a coalition with Iran-backed Houthis, his previous bitter enemies when he was president, against Saudi-backed successor president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Houthis captured the power in Yemen at the expense of Saleh's ruling class, then they complained about marginalization which pushed the former dictator to re-ally with Saudis against Houthis. The latter militia controls the army and internal security.

Saleh was detached from the reality and grandiosed enough to believe that he has popular base ready to defend him and defeat Houthis.

In a leaked phone call with Saudi-backed general prior to his assassination, Saleh said: "you can't cross me!". "I brought Houthis and I will defeat them". Houthis regarded him as a traitor and killed him where there were just a dozen of his loyals beside him.

The case of Libya: Muammar Gaddafi (in power: 1969-2011):

Gaddafi used to intoduce himself as "the leader of the revolution" (self-endorsed) who lacks any official position in the country, where he in fact, interfered in almost every single aspect such as: The buildings' colors (he ordered to paint the doors and windows with the green color) and obligate secondary schools to "educate" his book (The Green Book). His son controlled sports (T-shirts' colors, selection of players etc..).

After the popular uprising erupted in 2011, Gaddafi called the demonstrators as "al-Qaeda elements" and "rats". He completely denied their demands.

Later on, NATO intervened directly and the country fell into unmerciful in-fight between the winning militias.

The case of Romania: Nicolae Ceaușescu (in power: 1965-1988):

From beginning of 1980s, the economic situation deteriorated dramatically in Romania. Ceaușescu kept repeating the same self-endorsed socialist narrative, while his people was starving.

"Ceaușescu created a pervasive personality cult, giving himself such titles as "Conducător" ("Leader") and "Geniul din Carpați" ("The Genius of the Carpathians"), with inspiration from Proletarian Culture (Proletkult). After his election as President of Romania, he even had a king-like sceptre made for himself."

He also reduced patriotism by calling the protesters in Timisoara (Romanian city) as "fascists" who pretend to undermine the socialist republic.

Genius is a person who has a very high (i.e. more than the smart) Intelligence Quotient (IQ).

So, in order to describe a person as "genius", he or she must gain above-smart score in the pre-existing standard IQ test. This criterion is, however, wrong.

So, what is the genius?

The genius asks simple questions which appear silly for the public (normal people).

Imagine that Newton stood at the lecture hall and asked his professor why does the apple fall on the ground? what would be the reaction of both the professor and the students? I'm pretty sure no one would like to be in his place.

The genius is someone with different (abnormal) thinking in the right direction.

Newton, for example, reversed what appeared to us as fact, and backwardly reached the gravity laws.

In his thirties, Einstein professed his revolutionary Relativity Theory. He asked himself about what seemed to normal people as a fact; why does the light velocity which is originated from moving object still stable? where does the velocity of the moving object go?

Current genius evaluation is wrong.

There is no defined reference to evaluate the genius other than his achievement in certain field. In other words, the genius is genius within his field, but not within a category of different fields, such as mathematics and psychology, like the IQ test suggests.

Another well-known fraud is the Intelligent Mental Arithmetic (IMA) which is a program claimed to boost children's intelligence, based on Asian counting scale. It's totally based on counting and solving mathematical problems exclusively.

However, does intelligence relate to mathematics exclusively?

Advertisement : Inelligent Mental Arithmetic, Philippines

In fact, this type of training depends on enhancing recalling the short-term memory which with practice is saved in neurons as neuro-chemical substance and it also increase the neuronal synapses, so the enrolled child has more abilities to recall the mathematical processes due to goal-oriented exercises.

For example, a 4-year-old child plays one of sophisticated symphonies is not different than a child who solves complicated mathematical problems after enrolling the mentioned IMA.

What makes the genius so?

Besides imagination and curiosity, the genius is not distracted.

Most people are distracted and embedded within "normal" life. Some people search for the wealth, others for fame and reputation, and some people are busy making living and raising their kids.

The genius is not distracted by those things, even if he or she holds some of them. The genius finds time for observation, contemplation and thinking.

Are nerds smart?

Even though nerds do not interact socially like normal people and so they lack of normal "social skills", they have time to think, try and imagine.

They spend more than normal people performing their hobbies; either it is video games or hacking websites.

The Israeli forces assassinated Palestinian activist two days ago. For a moment, it is just a daily headline in Palestine diaries, however, the event is a turning point in Palestine, at least, I have noticed that incidence, which supposed to be an ordinary daily event, left a very deep and reactionary effect on the Palestinian youth.

Basil Al-Araj (31), Palestinian pharmacist, young intellectual and anti-occupation's activist. He theorized on the individual armed struggle against the Israeli occupation in Palestine. He was a talented public speaker which allowed him to be an effective theorist on the youth and used to criticize the Palestinian factions, although he was adherent to the idea of armed struggle which is still adopted by some Palestinian factions.

Basil's striking idea was: The real intellectual is the one who clashes with the invader, otherwise he or she would be a "fake intellectual".

He wanted to prove his philosophy, so he and five of his comrades formed a small armed cell aimed to hunt the Israeli forces in the West Bank. However, the Palestinian Authority's intelligence interrogated him and his partners and jailed them afterwards. They were released after six months amid protests and the anger of the public opinion. Israeli forces detained his partners, but Basil preferred to escape till his assassination after he refused to surrender.

The iconic hero:

He became an iconic revolutionary in a matter of days. This can be easily demonstrated by the number and the size of demonstrations after the assassination.

Funerals were held in the cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Haifa and Gaza. Even the Palestinians in exile, particularly in Syria and Lebanon, launched protests and praised him as a national hero.

Moreover, over 160 million users interacted with the story in social media, according to local news agency analysed the hashtags.

The reverse effect:

The Israeli forces wanted to get rid of armed man, but they in fact, made an iconic hero who attracts the youth and who scarified with his own self for his people and homeland.

Undoubtedly, there will be many people, especially among the youth, who will walk on the footsteps of Basil Al-Araj.

Trump was aware of the importance of Israel in the domestic and foreign US politics more than any other US president.
Israel was the only non-US state where Trump ran a parallel presidential campaign. He also included moving the US embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem as an independent item among his presidential promises.
Moreover, Trump's speech to the Israel Lobby (American Israel Public Affairs Commitee-AIPAC) was, in fact, an exhibition to his history of supporting Israel.

I speak to you today as a lifelong supporter and true friend of Israel. (CHEERS, APPLAUSE)
...40th Salute to Israel Parade, the largest-single gathering in support of the Jewish state.
(APPLAUSE)
In 2001, ... I sent my plane because I backed the mission for Israel 100 percent.
...It was a very dangerous time for Israel and frankly for anyone supporting Israel. Many people turned down this honor. I did not. I took the risk and I'm glad I did. — From Trump's speech to AIPAC.

However, prominent American Jewish billionaires preferred Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. For instance, Haim Saban, Sheldon Adelson (the owner of the bestselling Israeli daily paper Israel HaYom) endorsed Hillary in the US elections.

In fact it is not a paradox when Trump announced complete bias to Israel while the American Jewish billionaires turned their faces to Hillary, because Donald Trump knew the game rules in the US politics which requires their approval since they own the media and the bipartisan pressure groups in the congress, for example.

On other hand, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet found Trump's bias towards Israel an opportunity that should be taken for Israel's geopolitical interests.
Israel opposed Iran nuclear deal which Trump threatened to cancel in many occasions, and Israel will escape the US regulations on constructing new Israeli settlements in Trump's mandate.
Although president Trump did not mention the Jews in the Holocaust Memorial statement, the Israeli officials remained silent.
“Occasionally, there is even a temptation for Israel to benefit from anti-Semitism. In recent years, rather than focus on the need to fight anti-Semitism in France, Israel called on French Jews to come live in Israel.”

The US (besides Saudi Arabia)found what was called Al-Mujahideen(Al-Qaeda and its ideological affiliated groups now-a-days) in order to topple the Soviet-auxiliary communist government in Afghanistan, two decades later, Al-Qaeda attacked the WTC towers in New York.

The same scenario, but in faster pace, is happening now in Trump's era. The man is strongly supported by hardcore Antisemite Christians, like David Duke who publically preach hatred against Jews.
During the month of January [2017], 48 bomb threats were called in to Jewish community centers across the country. Also last month, a neo-Nazi made national news by promising to hold a march in Whitefish, Mont., to intimidate the town’s small Jewish population.

Jews started seeing their names bracketed with a series of parentheses in harassing tweets, signaling that the person had been identified as a Jew. The image became known as the Jewish cowbell and its source was traced to neo-Nazis and white nationalists.

At least 17 Jewish centers, including four schools, received bomb threats on Monday [today] and have been evacuated in yet another such wave sweeping the United States, according to local reports.
This is the fifth such wave in less than two months. Last week, at least 11 Jewish centers in five U.S. states were targeted with bomb threats in a single day.
However, Zionists of Tel-Aviv have realized that the exploitation of antisemitism does not work all the time, so Israel's opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) expressed outrage today over the wave of anti-Semitic incidents and threats in the United States and said Israel should be preparing for the worst - a wave of Diaspora Jews fleeing to the Jewish state.

Twenty years ago, Mrs. Elayyan finished her second decade duration of infertility. She and her husband had finally decided to undergo the relatively new assisted reproductive technique at that time in Palestine.

Nine months later, their parental longing and patience were cooled when they heard the high-pitched crying of their son, who was named 'Mahmoud'.

Mrs. Elayyan and her husband --who had been diagnosed as infertile couple for 20 years duration—were obsessed about their new son and they managed to offer him the best education they can.
Mr. Elayyan passed away leaving Mahmoud to be raised by his mother.

At the age of 18, Mahmoud joined faculty of Nursing upon his desire. Two years after his enrollment, he was shot in his head by Israeli forces while he was participating in a demonstration in Ramallah.

Mahmoud the nurse

Mahmoud the protester

Eventually, Mahmoud died in November 19 2015 due to brain injury.

Mahmoud the martyr

I am thinking how many times does his mother open his closet to smell his clothes?

On 31 May 2010, Mavi Marmara the flagship of Gaza freedom flotilla was attacked in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea by Israeli special forces. Nine Turkish activists were killed in the attack. The flotilla was heading to Gaza strip in attempt to break the siege.

Turkey laid down three conditions for the normalization with Israel. The first condition was an apology from Israel. The second was the payment of the compensation and the third one is to end the blockade on Gaza.

However, Turkish and Israeli officials met in Switzerland on Thursday where a preliminary reconciliation deal was set to be reached between the two countries, a senior Turkish official said.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretzreportedthat the agreement between the two countries includes the following:
1. In the framework of the agreement, Israel will pay Turkey $20 million in compensation, which will be transferred to a special fund that will in turn provide grants to the families of the Turkish citizens who were killed or injured in the Israel Navy's takeover of the Mavi Marmara.

2. Turkey and Israel will renew and normalize their relations and return their respective ambassadors to Tel Aviv and Ankara.

3. The Turkish parliament will pass a law that will annul all legal claims against Israeli Defense Force officers and soldiers in connection with the flotilla incident and will prevent future claims from being filed.

4. Turkey will expel Saleh al-Aruri, a senior member of Hamas' military wing, who is based in Istanbul.

5. Once the final agreement between the two countries has been signed, Turkey and Israel will explore cooperating in the natural gas field – with Turkey buying gas from Israel's offshore oil fields and the laying of a gas pipeline that would run via Turkey and through which Israel would export gas to Europe.

According to the leaked items, Gaza blockade will not be completely ended although it was the reason for murdering nine Turkish activists in the international water of the Mediterranean sea. Their mission was clear; to break the siege over Gaza.

It's about Gas

"Turkey is preparing to cut imports of LPG from Russia by a significant 25% next year. This puts a major damper on the Gazprom -Botas Petroleum Turkish Stream project, a project that was designed to connect Turkey to Europe through Greece. When that deal was discussed, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lobbied the Greek government to diversify its supply by turning to U.S. fuel instead of cheaper Russian imports."Fifty nine percent of Turkey's gas imported from Russia, and Turkey seeks to replace the Russian gas with Israeli one. The sales volume from Turkey is equivalent of 17 percent of Gazprom’s total exports outside the former Soviet Union, according to company data.

Turkey's Gas sources in 2012

On the other hand, Israel is looking forward to export its gas to Europe, which is about 500 km from Israeli coasts and Turkey constitutes a feasible route. Turkey also controls parts of the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, between Israel and Europe.

Israel's natural gas could go to Europe through Turkey since building pipelines under the Mediterranean is costly and difficult. The Leviathan gas field is believed to have a reserve of more than 620 billion cubic meters.

On November 13, Paris witnessed series of coordinated terrorist attacks started with suicide bombings at 09:20 pm, outside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, the northern suburb of Paris.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks and French president François Hollande announced that "France is in war".

Questions seeking for answers:

Iraqi intelligence sent a dispatch saying the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had ordered an attack on coalition countries fighting against them in Iraq and Syria, as well as on Iran and Russia, through bombings or other attacks in the days ahead. So the French intelligence had been informed about immediate terrorist attacks in France. Perhaps the French Home security did not take that seriously or there was failure of performance on the ground.

However, French-born Israeli journalist says Jewish community has been on alert for months amid fears of mass terror attack. "The Bataclan theater, site of Friday’s deadliest attack, was until recently Jewish-owned, said Sellem. As the site of annual fundraisers for the IDF, it is frequently targeted by anti-Israel protests, phone calls and emails, he said".

But how could the French Jewish community be warned about imminent terrorist attacks while French society was unaware of such attacks?

The Intercept has reviewed 10 high-profile jihadi attacks carried out in Western countries between 2013 and 2015..., and in each case some or all of the perpetrators were already known to the authorities before they executed their plot. In other words, most of the terrorists involved were not ghost operatives who sprang from nowhere to commit their crimes; they were already viewed as a potential threat, yet were not subjected to sufficient scrutiny by authorities under existing counterterrorism powers. Some of those involved in last week’s Paris massacre, for instance, were already known to authorities; at least three of the men appear to have been flagged at different times as having been radicalized, but warning signs were ignored.

But why were these warning signs ignored?

In Al Jazeera’s Head to Head episode, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Michael Flynn confirms to Mehdi Hasan that not only had he studied the DIA memo predicting the West’s backing of an Islamic State in Syria when it came across his desk in 2012, but even asserts that the White House’s sponsoring of radical jihadists (that would emerge as ISIL and Nusra) against the Syrian regime was “a willful decision.”

Former DIA director Michael Flynn: It was a decision to fund, arm ISIS, source: Al Jazeera via Youtube.The Guardian published a worthy title: "Paris attacks: latest evidence points to wider conspiracy", which included:"New evidence emerging from the investigation into the Paris attacks points to a conspiracy significantly wider than the nine jihadi thought to have carried out the killings and that was orchestrated primarily by disaffected young Europeans."

However, they focused on the circle of terrorists, their sympathizers and assistants, rather than focusing on a widespectral view. "For many, claims that the attackers belong to ISIS is a deal breaker. For these individuals, ISIS is a shadowy terrorist organization that supports itself and has created a caliphate in eastern Syria and western Iraq that can scarcely be defeated (except when the Russians bomb it). However, the facts do not support such a shallow understanding of the ISIS terrorist organization. ISIS was entirely created, funded and directed by the United States, Britain, France and other NATO countries. Its actions have been coordinated by the Anglo-American Intelligence apparatus for geopolitical purposes all across the world both at home and abroad. For this reason, the declaration that ISIS committed a terrorist attack in Paris is by no means a get-out-of-jail-free card for the Western Intelligence apparatus. Instead, it is the trademark of their handiwork. Please see these articles for more information on the nature of ISIS: here, here, here and here.

While the information presented above may not be enough evidence to conclude that the Paris attacks were false flag attacks, it is reason enough to question the official story thus far. If these attacks are indeed placed in the lap of ISIS, however, all fingers should immediately point to NATO and the Atlanticist Intelligence apparatus. It is they who control ISIS and they who bear the responsibility for its actions."

Arab uprisings started as the natural fate of longstanding totalitarianism, corruption and lack of social justice.

The economic situation played a major role to evoke the spontaneous and unexpected popular demonstrations in central squares.

At the beginning, Tunisia witnessed massive demonstrations ended by throwing the dictator, but the spark was a successful suicide attempt by surfed vegetable seller who was insulted by the municipal police. Contagiously, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen followed Tunisia respectively.

Where to be and why?

Modern capital regimes blame Stalin for killing 50 million Soviets, but they did not mention his role in preserving the Soviet Union united.

Russia is now the largest country in the world by landmass (about 11% of world's area), although the country is quite various regarding to religion, ethnicity and culture.

Moreover, Stalin's Russia played a major role to defeat the Nazi army, due to Soviet tough resistance and Russia's climate as well.

Democracy is not always the magic solution for nations, especially those who face immediate foreign aggression.

The case of Iraq

The Anglo-American invasion toppled Iraq's Saddam Hussien, but we now know that Iraq was a leading Arab state. No one spoke about the skillful Iraqi scientists who were so qualified in their fields. The socialist republic offered free basic and high education as well as state-funded scholarships.

Current US-architected Iraqi regime is non-democratic, sectarian and corrupt. For example, the electricity runs for few hours daily in one of the hottest cities in the Arab world.

My point is not support dictators, but to oppose the much worse alternatives.

Syria again

A feeling of anger and sadness covered me last night, when I watched the Syrian rebels celebrating the successive Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian army. Then I wrote on twitter, If the pro-NATO rebels had an ounce of patriotism, they would defend their homeland.

In case the Syrian rebels seized the power in Syria, let's imagine the scenario in points:

Political and social stability will be just a wish and Al-Qaeda will kill non-Sunni as will as opponent Sunnis.

The Western-backed Syrian opposition has no true base on the ground, and the Libyan scenario will be repeated (i.e. unmerciful fight on the authority).

Syria will be just another Arab Zionist-controlled state.

The Syrian victims will be doubled, if not tripled, since most of opposition forces are sectarian and non-organized.

The axis of resistance will be profoundly halted. Currently, it is the only axis which inhibits Israel's aspirations in the region.

A picture of 18-month-old Palestinian toddler who was burned alive by Jewish extremists (July 31).

Brief record:
One-and-a-half year old Ali Saad Dawabsha became the latest victim of Israeli violence on July 31. He was burned to death. Other members of his family were also severely burned in a Jewish settlers’ attack on their home in the village of Duma, near Nablus, in the West Bank.

One year ago, three Israeli Jews admitted kidnapping and burning Palestinian teenage to death. Mohammed Abu Khdeir was found burned to death after disappearing in July 2nd, 2014. Forensic analysis of his remains suggested he was still alive when he was set alight.

On June 18, extremist Jews set fire to “Fish and Bread” Church in Tiberias located close to Tiberias lake. Jews also wrote racial slogans on the walls of the church.
Yishai Schlissel, an Utra-orthodox rabbi stabbed six people at Jerusalem's annual Gay Pride. A 16-year-old girl 'Shira' died as a result of the attack at Hadassah University Medical center.Benzi Gopstein, leader of anti-Arab group Lehava, allegedly called for the burning of churches at a panel held this week for Jewish yeshiva students, using ancient Halachic, or Jewish law, to condemn what he called Christian "idol worship."
When a journalist at the panel informed Gopstein that he was on camera and could be arrested for his comments, Gopstein said he is prepared to spend 50 years in jail for his remarks, according to a video of the panel released by the Haredi website Kikar Shabbat.

Israeli President Rivlin was threatened by suspected Jewish extremists after his comments on the death of an 18-month-old Palestinian amid worsening tension between Israel and Palestine.Ben-Gurion - Rabbi Herzog deal:
The first Israeli prime minister considered the army service by ultra-Orthodox Jews a "First and Foremost, a Great Moral Issue", as Ben-Gurion replied on Herzog's letter. However, "The exchange of letters between the two dealt with Ben-Gurion's intention of reducing the scale of the postponement of army service, which had been granted some ten years before to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students and which in fact gave most of them completeexemptionfrom military duty."

Silent conflict: Secular versus religious Jews:
Secular Zionists blame ultra-orthodox Jews for the economic crises in Israel. The latter usually don't work nor participate in social or military activities. Moreover, Haredim Jews usually have large families and they are almost totally dependent on the state's funds.

Haredim [Ultra-orthodox Jews who refuse the modern secular lifestyle] typically had large families and it was hard for them to survive when Haredi men would
stay in the yeshiva and refuse to work in the Israeli economy. These funds allowed yeshiva
students to support themselves and it dissuaded them from looking at finding employment in the Israeli workforce. The Haredim clung to this provision intensely, often fighting to keep funding strong despite the fact it was coming from the Israeli government. They tried confronting this paradox in various ways, but were mostly unsuccessful. For example, establishing an independent social service system was meant to counter the dependence on the Israeli government for important social services. However, groups like the Neturei Karta have been successful in staying independent of Israeli social services, thanks to their commitment to resist Zionism as much as possible. —"Haredim vs. Secular: Israel’s Internal Culture War and the Fight for Israeli Identity", Levitt Fellowship Research, Hamilton College, 2012

The ‘Equal Burden’ law:

The Knesset approved the ‘Equal Burden’ law in 2014, according to which thousands of Haredi Yeshivah students will be drafted into the "Israeli Defense Forces" beginning in 2017. The opposition protested the vote, and even in the coalition there was disagreement after MK Chetboun (Jewish Home Party) voted against the law.

The inevitable explosion:
Haredim Jews who refuse the modern life, and work nothing, but preaching hatred against Christians, Muslims and even secular Zionists and Jewish gays as well. They also have their loyal followers who are ready to execute their 'holy orders'.
Undoubtedly, Jewish extremists will keep assaults against the mentioned groups and/or Non-Jewish holy places. However, the conflict will be escalated someday if they keep their hatred crimes in the same pace.
For instance, what will happen if they attack Holy Sepulcher (Church of the Resurrection) or Al-Aqsa Mosque?

As world powers and Iran reach a deadline Tuesday – which may be extended – for talks on the Islamic regime’s nuclear program, Israel is taking steps to prepare for a military strike on Tehran’s nuclear facilities so as to defend itself from the impending threat.

Iran has refused to allow inspections of its covert nuclear sites and declared it will use advanced centrifuges as soon as a deal is met, meaning the leading state sponsor of terrorism could potentially obtain a nuclear arsenal within weeks, all while getting billions of dollars in sanctions relief through a nuclear deal.

The Hebrew-language Walla! reported Tuesday that it has learned from a foreign source that IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot has appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan to head a special team tasked with examining the military options against Iran.

The team would explore what kind of striking options are available to Israel after a deal with Iran is signed.

By appointing such a senior IDF official to the team, it is estimated that Israel is considering the signing of a deal to be a game changer which would require a serious reevaluation of the regional situation, and likely necessitate military action against Iran.

Sources close to Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (Likud) say there is a pressing need to present a powerful military option against Iran, a reality which is being used to demand that the defense budget not be reduced by the Knesset.

For over 15 years the IDF has been examining the possibility of military action against Iran’s ever burgeoning nuclear program, and the majority of the funding for such preparedness has gone to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and the IDF’s intelligence branch.

“Iran is lying – what do we do?”

A source close to Ya’alon was quoted by Walla! saying, “nothing has changed regarding the military option. Our working assumption is that Iran is lying all the time, beyond the fact that it is funding and directing terror in the Middle East. It (Iran) is our most bitter enemy today, even though we don’t share a physical border with it, and we must not put off any kind of preparedness against it.”

“In the end we don’t believe Iran. We don’t believe the (nuclear) project will be stopped. Therefore the (military) option will remain. …We need to be ready also for the day in which Israel will need to make decisions alone. (What) if it becomes clear they are pushing the envelope in breach of the agreement? Or if Iran goes down deep underground (with its nuclear facilities)? And if new sites are found? Will we wait for the US to take care of them?”

“You have to prepare yourself for all of the threats. Not only for Gaza and Lebanon,” added the source. “The military option costs money but the more time goes by, you’re better prepared to carry out the mission.”

Indicating Israel’s growing preparedness ahead of a potential military clash with Iran, the IAF held a special drill with the Greek air force two months ago, in which roughly 100 members of the IAF took part including dozens of crews from all the F-16i squadrons.

The unusual drill had IAF pilots operating in unfamiliar territory for a night and the following day, and included simulations of strikes and dogfights involving dozens of fighter jets.

Most importantly, in the drill the Greek army reportedly deployed advanced anti-missile defense systems similar to the Russian S-300 that Moscow sold to Iran and has yet to ship. The advanced S-300 system is considered to be a major challenge in carrying out an airstrike in that it can shoot down rockets as well as jets.